Retort oven



H. KOPPERS RETORT OVEN Original Filed Aug. 31. 1921 2 s t -s t, 1

1.0 A A y Hm #13333 a: I A I I I Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEINRICH KOIPPERS, OF ESSEN-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE KORPEBS DE- VELOPMENT CORPORATION, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A'CORPORATION OI PENNSYLVANIA.

RETORT OVEN.

Application filed August 31, 1921, Serial No. 497,365, and in Germany December '7,

1918. Renewed August 17, 1928.

The invention relates to retort furnaces, chiefly for the production of gas, with several retorts assembled in a common envelope.

My German patent application K. 65,772 /246 relates to a furnace for the product1on of gas, with for example the retort groups arranged to form a nine retort furnace, wh1ch is connected with a heat regenerating plant consisting of two air and gas heaters, while on each half of the retort group are provided three distributing chambers of which two are always in communication with one regenerator while the intermediate one is connected with the other regenerator. The arrangement makes possible a uniform distribution of the combustion substances over the ground area of the retort group and thus attains a heating with a covering flame. In the con:

structional example based on that application an inclined retort furnace is selected in which the arrangement of these distribution chambers can be well carried out directly.

Although the construction according to the 5 main application is readily applicable per se with horizontal retorts and is intended for the same, an increase in the height of the structure resulted which in some cases may not be convenient. To avoid this, the same idea, of

horizontal retorts, is further developed, and

between the retorts and the regenerators underlying the same along the whole length of the retort group there are arranged channels running transversely to the axisof the latter, which are connected alternately to the air and gas heaters underneath and also have each two nozzle like ducts leading right and left to the supporting walls of the retorts, so that the heating passages formed by the transverse and longitudinalwalls always receive two such nozzle like ducts one from the air heater channel, and one from the gas heater channel. In this way a uniform distribution of the combustion substances over the length of the retort groups is attained before they meet, while the flames striking over the retorts are also drawn uniformly away into the two regenerators of the other side which are operating as waste heat receivers.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated for the purpose of explanation, but not as a limitation of my invention, means for the main application particularly adapted to carrying the same into practical effect. In said drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a. retort furnace embodying the invention, taken on line AB of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a similar View on line C-D of Fig. 1.

The nine retorts 11 arranged in the envelope 10 are supported by the transverse walls 12 and the longitudinal walls 12', which altogether also form suitable heating passages. Underneath the retort group the air heaters 13 and the gas heaters 14 forming regenerators extend the whole length of the retorts (Fig. 2), which heaters are all connected by bends 18 to a waste heat channel 16, while the gas heaters also possess connections 19 to the gas pipe 17, the connections 18 of the air heaters being in direct communication with the outside air. The operation of these regenerators or single chamber heaters takes place in the known manner by draft reversal in about half hour working stages, Between the retort group and the regenerators are arranged the channels 21 and 25, of which 21 are connected to the regenerators 14, while" the channels 25 are in communication with the air heaters 13. The uniform distribution of the combustion substances between the separate channels is effected by an intermediate channel 28, and the openings of the connections 21 into the same can be suitably controlled by slides 22. In the regenerators 13 the ducts 25 controllable by slides 26 serve this same purpose. The channels 21 communicate with the retort chamber by means of nozzles 23 while the channels 25 have ducts 27. These ducts 23 and 27 are distributed uniformly over all the retort group and into each heating shaft or passage formed by the transverse and longitudinal walls 12 and 12 there runs a nozzle 23 and 27 In order to permit heating by rich gas if desired separate small passages 29 can e formed in the mass of the furnace between the distributing channels and the retort envelope.

What is claimed is- 1. In a gas retort structure, in combination a plurality of substantially parallel substantially horizontally elongated retorts grouped within a flame chamber common to and enveloping them, said retorts being horizontally spaced from each other and laterally spaced from the chamber walls and from the top of said chamber, partitions in said chamber transverse to said retorts whereby a group of vertical flame flues are formed alongside of each of said retorts and over the 'tops thereof for alternating reversal of inflow and outflow; gas and air ports opening into the lower part of each of said flues; regenerators located in the lower portion of said retort structure underneath the group of retorts and extendingsub'stantially' parallel with the retorts and respectively communicating with two of the groups of vertical flame flues contiguous to each other through g each other through equalizing channels that equalizing channels that extend lengthwise over the tops of said regenerators respectively and that each, at spaced intervals along its length, communicates with a plurality of distributing channels above and. each extending crosswise of the equalizing channel, each of said distributing channels having direct communication with a plurality of the aforesaid ports that openinto the lower part of a plurality of the aforesaid vertical flame flues in one of the aforesaid groups of vertical flame flues' and controlling means for controlling gas flow to said equalizing channels from their respective regenerators.

2. In a gas retort structure, in combination: a plurality of substantially parallel substantially horizontally elongated retorts grouped within a flame chamber common to and enveloping them, said retorts being horizontally spaced from each other and laterally spaced from the chamber walls and from the top of said chamber, partitions in said chamber transverse to said retorts whereby a group of vertical flame flues are formed alongside of each of said retorts and over the tops thereof for alternating reversal of inflow and outflow; gas and air ports opening into the lower part of eachof said flues; regenerators located in the lower portion of said retort structure underneath the group of retorts and extending substantially parallel with the retorts and respectively communicating with two of the groups of vertical flame flues contiguous to eachother through equalizing channels that extend lengthwise over the tops of said regenerators respectively and that each, at spaced intervals along its length, communicates with a plurality of distributing channels above and each extending crosswise of the equalizing channel, each of said distributing channels having direct communication with a plurality of the aforesaid ports that 0 en into the lower part of a plurality of the a oresaid vertical flame flues in one of the aforesaid groups of vertical flame flues.

3. In a'gas retort structure, in combination: a plurality of substantially parallel substantially horizontally elongated retorts grouped within aflame chamber common to and envelopin them, said retorts being horizontally spaced rom each other and laterally spaced a plurality of from the chamber walls and from the top of said chamber; partitions in said chamber transverse to said retorts whereby a group of vertical flame flues are formed alongside of each of said retorts and over the tops thereof for alternating reversal of inflow and outflow; gas and air ports opening into the lower'part of each of said flues; regenerators located in the lower portion of said retort structure under the group of retorts and extending substantially parallel with the retorts and re spectively communicating with two of the roups of vertical flame flues contiguous to extendlengthwise over the tops of said regenerators respectively and that each at spaced intervals along its length communicateswith a plurality of distributing channels above and each extending crosswise of the equalizing channel, each of said distributing channels having direct communication with one of the aforesaid ports that open into the lower part of one of the aforesaid vertical flame flues of each of a plurality of the aforesaid groups of vertical flame flues.

4. In a gas retort structule, in combination substantially parallel substantially horizontally elongated retorts grouped within a flame chamber common to and enveloping them, said retorts being horizontally spaced from each other and laterally spaced from the chamber walls and from the top of said chamber; partitions in said chamber transverse of said retorts whereby a group of vertical flame flues are formed alongside of each of said retorts and over the tops thereof for alternating reversal of inflow and outflow; gas and air ports opening into the lower part of each of said flues; regenerators located in the lower portion of said retort structure under the group of retorts and extending substantially parallel with the retorts and respectively communicating with two of the groupsof vertical flame flues contiguous to each other through equalizing channels that extend lengthwise over the tops of said regenerators respectively and that each at spaced intervals along its length communicates with a plurality of distributing channels above and each extending crosswise of the equalizing channel, each of said distributing channels having direct communication with HEINRICH KOPPERS. 

